The early settlers came to Las Vegas primarily to work on and for the railroad, but they also ran small businesses, owned or worked on farms and ranches, and provided support services for mining in southern Nevada; some also engaged in early entertainment ventures.
Most of the men and some of the women were connected to the San Pedro, Los Angeles, and Salt Lake Railroad that arrrived in 1905 and established a critical stopover point for refueling and watering the steam trains from Las Vegas' Big Springs.
The aquifer that fed Big Springs provided the water for farming and ranching, drawing pioneers as early as the 1850s.
Discoveries of gold in nearby locales -- Eldorado Canyon, Searchlight, and Bullfrog -- in the early 20th century brought prospectors and miners to the region. Las Vegas served as a supply hub for these mining communities, attracting merchants and service providers.
As far as what everyone did specifically, many settlers worked for the railroad as laborers, mechanics, and clerks in maintenance, freight handling, and train operations.
Small businesses like general stores, restaurants, saloons, hotels, and boarding houses served the local population, railroad workers, and travelers.
Even as early as the 1910s and '20s, Las Vegas was beginning to develop a reputation for entertainment, driven by its lenient laws. Gambling halls, bars, and early forms of nightlife (including prostitution) offered employment, especially after Nevada legalized gambling in 1909; though it was banned again from 1910 to 1931, backroom gambling dens were common).
Of course, a small number of residents worked in civic roles, such as local government, schools, and churches.
It was, in short, like any other dusty railroad whistle stop around the country, except that it was destined to become one of the most exciting and welcoming cities in the world.
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steve crouse
Jul-25-2025
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